During my third week of clinical, I had the opportunity to help with the admission of a new patient from another hospital. The pt was transferred over via ambulance. I was actually assigned to his roommate that day and just happened to walk out after jotting down some vital signs. As I walked out I confirmed with the medics that the patient would be getting wheeled in to bed B in that room, they agreed. I walked back into the room and notified my patient he would be getting a roommate. I began to make room so that the medics could bring the gurney in for a safe transfer.
The CNA and RN assigned to the room walked in and I asked how I could be of assistance. We continued to make room and gather all of the necessary equipment needed for the new admit. After a few minutes, we signaled to the medics that everything was ready for them to bring the patient in. We lined up the gurney and hospital bed at a safe/working height and we transferred the patient over. While the RN received a report on the patient, the CNA and I placed the patient on the cardiac monitor and we acquired a first set of vital signs. The CNA explained how to use the call button and where the bathroom was located. I tried to get the patient as comfortable as he could be and asked him if we could do anything else for him before we left the room.
As I left the room I figured a toasty warm blanket from the blanket warmer would be a welcoming gesture. I grabbed two blankets and made my way back into the room. As the nurse was talking to the patient, I placed the blanket atop the new patient. He stopped paying attention to the nurse and looked at me saying that was the most thoughtful gesture anyone had done for him that day. He went on to explain how the ride over to the hospital was freezing and that a warm blanket made all the difference. I assured him we had an endless amount of warm blankets in case he wanted more.
On the ride home, I realized how something as minimal as grabbing a warm blanket could make somebody’s day. Sometimes we are so busy doing the technical duties that we forget our patients are in their most vulnerable state. I’ll definitely be making my rounds with a stack of warm blankets in my future clinicals.
